Finding Myself and Kinda Freaking Out About It

Wow this book promotion stuff is crazy. It's like the circus part of the writing business. Writing is quiet and solitary. Promoting is busy and friendly. I guess it's good to have the balance, but I'm still adjusting.

I just got my manuscript back from my editor. She loved it, which is such a relief. She mostly just had comma issues. Since I tend, to use those, a lot, and in the wrong, places. Though my daughter is a tougher critic, and I'm still waiting on her final critique. She's not bothered by bad punctuation, but by things that don't make sense or sound lame. Which is also pretty important. So I'm happy to have them both.

But now I'm feeling the crunch. I've got to get the arc copies ready and off to those who are waiting before they lose interest. I also need to make a book trailer. And a cute little grab button. Maybe some swag. (I've got the perfect thing--twine friendship bracelets. It'll make awesome sense after you read the book.) And last night I had an idea for a couple of video blogs. And a whole new series that I'd like to draft before I forget...

As you can see I'm having a hard time focusing. But it's not just because there's so much to do. It's more because I know I'm being watched. And to keep it with a Halloween theme, it's kind of freaking me out.

Now please don't misunderstand. I love readers. And reviewers. I love feedback, even if it's negative. What I don't love is attention. I think it's one of the great ironies of being a writer--you have to have the kind of personality that doesn't mind sitting unnoticed and all by yourself for hours and days and even months at a time. But in order to have your stuff read you have to wave your arms around and say "Hey look at me! I'm totally awesome!" I suppose there are some authors who don't mind that so much, but I think for most of us it's kind of painful.

And frankly since I'm starting from scratch with ExtraNormal (I'll be explaining that in an upcoming post, so stay tuned) I feel like I've got to wave my arms real hard. I mean, I have like a half-dozen followers on my new blog. I've tried to get the followers on the other blog to make the leap, but they're not YA followers, so it's okay, I understand. But because of my low friend/fan/follower numbers I've been feeling pretty anonymous. Just me and my book in the back of a very crowded room. Which is just fine with me.

But that was before I noticed that I'm being noticed. First it was GoodReads. (Love, love, love GoodReads by the way.) A week or so ago GoodReaders started adding ExtraNormal to their shelves left and right. After that Google Alerts starting going off like crazy. Lists, recommendations. Ones that total strangers who just love the cover and the concept were making. Totally awesome. And freaky.

So I've spent most of my morning (which as you remember was supposed to be spent working on my manuscript), tracking down all the mentions I've had in the last week or so.

First I ought to do a plug for Bookish Delights, who have invited me to be a guest blogger as part of their All Hallows Eve carnival. They've got contests and prizes, so make sure you check it out!


But then there's all these other lists made up by people who are excited to read ExtraNormal. Which makes me so happy. But also, like I said, a little freaked. Because I feel like I'm moving up to the front of the room where people will notice what I do. Yes, I know. You're shaking your head and saying, "That is the point of promotion Suze, get over it." I do realize that. Really. And I'm really glad people are finding me without me having to go out and brag myself up. But it's stll not quite as cozy as anonymous.

I may have missed some. But here's the general idea:

http://lafemmereaders.blogspot.com/2011/10/tantalizing-future-ya-releases-im-so.html

http://www.teensreadandwrite.com/2011/10/waiting-on-wednesday-5-hot-upcoming-ya.html


http://www.missiontoread.com/2011/10/read-thon-mini-challenges.html


http://bookshelfsophisticate.blogspot.com/


http://starmetaloak.blogspot.com/2011/10/waiting-on-wednesday-extranormal-by.html


http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.232521320127352.53426.108905649155587&type=3


http://reading2alba.tumblr.com/


http://besosdeunangel.blogspot.com/2011/10/extranormal-suze-reese.html


http://www.bloglovin.com/el/blog/2434183/juvenil-fyr-literatura-juvenil-y-desva#

Amazing, isn't it?